Brothers Luke and Brady Lawing stood out amongst the many competitors at the 2021 Fort Benning Multi-Gun. They were two of many clad in sponsored jerseys, but their youth and attention to what was transpiring before them set them apart. I first noticed their mother and father – watching eagerly and making sure the boys had everything they needed. Luke and Brady commented upon the performances of others in their squad and lightly teased one another over their stage runs.
Sixteen-year-old Luke Lawing of Morganton, North Carolina started competing in 3-gun at age 11, inspired by watching his older brother. Luke became familiar with firearms much earlier, starting deer hunting at age 5 and joining 4H at 9. Now, half a decade into competing, he has an impressive list of sponsors including F-1 Firearms, EOTECH, Liberty Gun Lubricants, Hexmag, Breda USA and Harvest Moon Engraving. He also recently entered the world of air guns, winning the Sportsman Speed Challenge at the 2021 Rocky Mountain Air Gun Challenge. Competing, Luke said, has taught him discipline and shown him a different side of firearms. “Take all the help and advice you can get. It might sound stupid at the time but you can learn something from everyone.”
Luke has certainly learned from his older brother Brady, now 19. Brady, like Luke, just entered the world of airguns this year, but began shooting at age 3 and competing in 3-gun at age 12. He started out competing in an amateur 3-gun match, and claiming the title. “I have learned the knowledge of how to shoot and be versatile with a lot of different platforms,” Brady said. Brady took first in the 2021 American Airgunner Challenge and is a two-time back to back Microtech ProAm Champion. He is a member of the F-1 Firearms shooting team and is also sponsored by EOTECH optics, Hexmag, Liberty Gun Lubricant, Sentry Products, TRU-Speck, Grizzly Ears and Tifosi Optics.
Cold mornings transitioning into warm afternoons at Fort Benning, Georgia didn’t stop the pair. Completing nine stages of obstacles and courses of fire developed by the nation’s top shooters over three days, Brady claimed second place in the Tactical Optics division as well as won the Teeter Totter stage. Luke claimed second place overall in the junior category. When not on the range, you’ll find the pair hunting and fishing and always looking for ways to expand their horizons.
